163-year sentence reinstated after appeals court questions local judge’s motives
Shelby County Criminal Court Division I Judge Paula Skahan (pictured) had originally amended Courtney Anderson’s 163-year sentence to 25 years of time served during a Dec. 13 hearing, but the state appealed. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)
Courtney Anderson was sentenced to 163 years in prison, but a local judge amended his sentence to time served. The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals overturned the ruling that freed him.
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Subscriber Only Courtney Anderson Tennessee Court of Criminal appeals Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti Judge Paula SkahanThank you for supporting local journalism.
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Aarron Fleming
Aarron Fleming covers Memphis and Shelby County’s court system and is a member of The Daily Memphian’s public safety reporting team. He formerly covered education and earned his B.A. in journalism from the University of Memphis.
Julia Baker
A lifelong Memphian, Julia Baker graduated from the University of Memphis in 2021. Other publications and organizations she has written for include Chalkbeat, Memphis Flyer, Memphis Parent magazine and Memphis magazine.
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